Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 20 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday called upon the people to make Tamenglong an orange producing district citing that the orange produced from the district has unique taste and peculiar character apart from having its quality.
Biren Singh was speaking at the closing function of the 17th state level Orange Festival held at Tamenglong on Monday.
Calling upon the masses to understand the internal meaning of holding such festivals, he said that the reason behind increasing the prize money for the orange growers’ competition is to encourage locals to take up orange farming and make themselves economically viable and self-reliant, which will eventually improve the local economy.
He also expressed the need for tissue culture for the Tamenglong Oranges to ensure that the local orange does not get mixed with other varieties and that it does not lose its taste or uniqueness.
Informing that the state has started exporting pineapple, black rice, turmeric among other items, he said oranges can also be exported if produced in surplus.
Biren Singh said that the three cold storages inaugurated will help farmers in storing their products while assuring that the government is always there for the people.
Biren also stressed that Tamenglong is moving towards development, citing various developmental projects like eco-tourism centres at Thanlon Caves, Zeilad Lake, among others.
‘In today’s modern world, tourism is the best option for places like Manipur to improve the economy,’ he said while deliberating on the need to develop and promote the tourist spots in the State.
Orange grower Gainiliu of Sibilong village under Tousem Sub division bagged the 1st prize in the orange growers competition while Taningliu Kamei also from Sibilong village and Gamkhanliu of Changdai village won 2nd and 3rd prize winners. Gainiliu went home richer with a cash prize of INR 2 lakh while Taningliu and Gamkhanliu received INR 1 lakh and INR 75,000 respectively.
Altogether 270 orange farmers which produced a minimum 1000 oranges participated in the three-day orange festival.